A rare frigid storm is charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow, closing highways and grounding nearly all flights.

A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow that closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students more used to hurricane dismissals than snow days.

Around 40 million people in the U.S. are under a winter storm warning from an unusual blast of severe winter weather.

Frigid temperatures and sub-zero wind chills gripped the Chicago area Monday, causing one rally timed to the inauguration of President Donald Trump to be postponed, although others continued as planned.

A Cold Weather Advisory is set to take effect across Chicagoland from 9 p.m. Monday until noon Tuesday due to dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills. Lows tonight will plunge to -5 to -10 degrees,